From this point on how you make your beats will depending on what you are using to make them. Sequencers like Reason, Fruity loops, and the Triton and Phantom series workstations al have loads of sounds in them to start. Others like Logic, Cubase, Performer and Sonar have some sounds standard but really excel as sequencers and recording. The Akai MPC must have sounds loaded into them.
The workstations like the Korg Triton and Roland Phantom feature hundreds and even thousands of sounds, ranging from drums to guitars, strings and anything else you can imagine. That’s is because they are not only sequencers they are also have what are called sound modules built in to them. Sound modules can also be bought by themselves as stand alone units so you can add more sounds to your setup as it grows.
There is also another device that it used for sounds. Its called the sampler. The Akai MPC series is one of the best samplers on the market. Samplers are used to record sounds and make them playable by you in your sequences so you can add them to your beats. Sampled sounds can be loops, drum hits, or realist instrument sounds like guitars or pianos.
Many of the computer based sequencers also have devices or virtual instruments to playback samples. They work similar to a sound module. The biggest difference between a sound module and a sample playback instrument is the sounds of course. With a sound module you are limited to the internal sounds provide by the manufacturer. Although you can edit them you can not take them out and put new sounds in. A sampler or sample playback instrument will play only what you put into it. Fruity Loops can use an add on device or plugin called the Sound font player and also can trigger samples other ways. Logic uses a plugin called the EXSmk II. Cubase, Resaon and Performer also have their own versions of these sample playback instruments. The Triton and Phantom also have samplers built into them as well.
I Have a sampler where can I get sounds for it?
If you have a sampler like the Akai MPC you can make all the sounds you want your self all you have to do is hook up a turntable or cd player to it and record all the sounds you want. You must be careful though because of copyright laws. If you use a beat, loop or recognizable sound from a CD or record you will have to clear it with the record company that owns it or risk being sued when your record hits #1 on the billboard charts. (Note; I am in no way offering legal advice, you can be sued long before that! ) But sampling and legal issues is a whole other article. When in doubt don’t get nervous until your getting paid for it.
For those of you that you are using a sample playback instrument instead you can also create your own sounds also but it will be a little trickier to record and program them for your sampler.
Don’t get discouraged though you cal always download free sounds from the internet and buy sounds that are already programmed for your sampler. Most producers use a combination of bought sounds and custom sounds they have created them selves.
Samples come in a large variety of formats and this is where things can get complicated. The format that your sounds plays depends on the compatibility of your sampler.
Where can I buy sounds from?
If your on a budget and looking for killer drum sounds the GNX Music Step Ya Game Up Vol. 1 CD-Rom is a good start. The CD has 500 drum sounds sampled from some of the hottest records in the game. It also comes in a variety of formats so it is compatible with most samplers.
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